Talk:Chem395:April 11 discussion

Be sure to look over the ISO 14001 presentation or Design for the Environment before you "listen to" the presentation. You should have a second browser window open at the relevant one of these pages while the person is presenting.

What we will be doing

Each person will explain the pros and cons of introducing their scheme at Acme. You must present a convincing case for the company to spend money. Be warned - some of your audience may be skeptical!

How this will be done

I haven't yet got the technology worked out for doing real time audio, so the presentation will have to be done using the standard text format. Spend perhaps 5-10 minutes typing things, then take questions at the end. You can refer to items on your page, as we will have the page open. We shall try to mainly handle questions at the end.

Presentations

• Jesse, on ISO 14000
• Chris, on DfE

ISO 14000

Good afternoon! J-Fed 16:01, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

OK, Jesse, can you start us off? Why should we at Acme spend over $100k/year on getting this? Walkerma 16:02, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

There are many advantages for ACME if we choose to become ISO 14000 certified, which I've outlined in my report. They can can give ACME an edge in competing with non –certified ISO 14000 companies. The certification will reduce time-consuming audits and inspections and we can have a positive affect on the environment. Also, we can lower certain internal costs and increase productivity, reduce pollution and wastes, have less fines and taxes (as well as low insurance rates), ACME will be favored by banks for lending practices, we can be part of the larger international market and our consumers will have more respect for our company because they will have confidence in our environmental stance. J-Fed 16:07, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

There are other benefits for ACME as well. By educating our valued employees about ISO 14000 they will feel energized about working at ACME and being a part of an environmentally friendly chemical plant. Training our employees about hazards, solutions and the ISO standards will make ACME a leader among our competitors. We will have the proper documentation for government inspectors, our employees, and insurance companies so that ACME is known to be compliant with federal regulations and organized and safe in its practices. If ACME obtains ISO certification, it will increase our competitiveness in the chemical industry and allow us to form joint ventures with other companies. Achieving registration for the ISO 14001 EMS is $70,000 for ACME. J-Fed 16:08, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

With the recent explosion in our plant it would be a good idea for ACME's public and industrial image if we were making headway through 'green' processes and obtain ISO certification. J-Fed 16:10, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

In the long run the ISO certification cost will be offset. The advantages speak for themselves. With the current employees and managers we have it is possible to outline and EMS and have auditors come in to assess ACME. We have the resources and the manpower to accomplish this. J-Fed 16:12, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

My report outlines how and who should take control of the requirements for ISO certification. There will be some extra work involved in getting this together, but by splitting the work between each respective department and managers, it will be a very effective logistic strategy. J-Fed 16:14, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Are you ready for questions now? Just let us (me?) know. Walkerma 16:15, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

For ACME, being ISO 14000 certified will reap many benefits in the company’s future and the environmental stance taken by ACME will be noticed by our competitors, customers, suppliers and the general public. I'm ready for any questions you may have. J-Fed 16:21, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

What do the EPA and other regulatory bodies think of ISO14000? Do they support it? Will they be more or less likely to do a surprise audit? Walkerma 16:23, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

From what I know, The EPA uses ISO as criteria for incentive programs like Project XL. For companies, like ACME, the EPA will prefer to work with them and lessen audits and surprise audits. In case of a lawsuit, the justice department has agreed to take ISO certification into account for sentencing and the Department of Energy has proposed that companies that supply chemicals etc. be ISO certified. Many other companies look favorably on ISO certified companies. The FDA, Defense Department and the FAA. J-Fed 16:30, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

That sounds great, thanks! Anything to keep the EPA off our backs is good! Walkerma 16:32, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

We can't afford to spend that sort of money just to keep the tree-huggers happy! I've been asking for a new IR machine for 5 years, and I've been told we can't afford it – and that's only $20,000. I can't think how we will manage to find $100,000 or more EVERY year – tell me that!

Well, it does seem that the cost is insurmountable, but compared to what we might have to pay for liabilities - it doesn't seem that much. Also, with the joint ventures ACME might make plus the employee empowerment- we can double our profits. J-Fed 16:37, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Even if the public is more confident in our company and public programs we offer or drives we conduct for campaigning / fundraising will be welcomed. J-Fed 16:38, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Bob shows the typical backward thinking of many of our managers. This is something that will make the place a safer place to work, and more responsible, and the price is reasonable. It'll pay for itself in the longer term, and it's the right thing to do. My members would consider that a lot more important than Bob's silly lab toys. Joe Smith 16:40, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Thank you for your support Joe! Jane, Allison, Rich, how do the rest of you feel? J-Fed 16:42, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Oh, yes, let's "do the right thing" – but if your members get their pink slips they won't care about the environment quite so much then, will they! This is just an outrageous cost! Just to get a little logo on the notepaper! We only made $2.7 million total profits last year, and that has to cover all our expansion program. Where can we just get $100k from? Who are we going to fire to pay for this? This is just too much money, no way can we do this. JaneDoe 16:44, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Would each of you be willing to serve on the EMS committee?

• Allison- do you think the employees will be willing to change policies and procedures?
• Rich - is this certification something you would be in favor of doing? Do you think it will have a major impact on our sales? J-Fed 16:46, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

ISO is more than a logo. If ISO is applied on a widespread basis, it may actually improve the level of ACME's business globally. This strategy is an excellent business tool. Based on economic policy and the macroeconomic equation C+G+I+(X-M): consumption+government (taxes, subsidies etc) + investment (capital and real capital) + (exports-imports) = $$$$ for ACME. We are talking more than a few thousand dollars and no net loss on paper. With the fees we currently pay for audits, taxes, insurance rates and paperwork - we are paying more than we should!J-Fed 16:52, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Let's stake a strong claim in the economic sector for environmental friendliness!J-Fed 16:54, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Right - we should! Thanks Jesse, I think we'll have to close things now. Jane, I think we also have to ask: How much could this cost us if we don't get ISO 14000. If we avoid one big fine from EPA, or we get one big new order from Europe or Japan because of it, then it's worth it. The govt. will demand more, and so will our customers, and I think we should be ahead of the curve rather than behind it. So I think we should look seriously at it. But I'd like to hear from Chris first, before we commit to this large extra financial burden. Thanks everyone, and have a good weekend! An excellent case made, Jesse! Walkerma 16:55, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

The time it takes our employees to fill out longer paper work, we are paying them for more things than if we were under ISO. We can still have our employees but lessen the amount of tiring work they have to do! Thank you very much for taking the time out to meet everyone!J-Fed 16:56, 11 April 2008 (EDT)

Have a great weekend everyone! J-Fed 16:57, 11 April 2008 (EDT)